Brothers serving in Iraq grateful for holiday together

For some, Christmas memories center around a tree, presents and a large meal. For a Trivoli family, Christmas will now involve memories of two brothers playing football in Iraq.

Andy Kravetz

For some, Christmas memories center around a tree, presents and a large meal. For a Trivoli family, Christmas will now involve memories of two brothers playing football in Iraq.

"What made it even more fun is that because we were on the same team, the opposite players would say 'I'm covering Williams,' and the other players would be confused and ask 'are you covering Sgt. Williams or Lt. Williams?'" said 1st. Lt. Trevor Williams, who along with his brother, Sgt. Josh Williams, deployed with 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in October but were stationed in different parts of the country.

"We both thank God that he blessed us by being able to serve our country together at the same time and in the same place," said Trevor Williams, who like his brother, graduated from Farmington High School.

Christmas together, even though they were in the same brigade, was unlikely, but fate and another man's patriotism intervened.

A soldier in Trevor Williams' unit decided to reenlist, a ceremony that was to occur at Contingency Operating Base Speicher which is near the central Iraq city of Tikrit - and the base where Josh Williams just happened to be stationed.

Trevor's commander gave him a two-day pass, and the next thing you know, it's first and 10 on the 20. While at Speicher, the brothers took in a holiday brunch, which both admit wasn't as good as their mother's home cooking.

"Also, they were replaying the Bears' win over the Packers, so that was fun to watch again. It was great to watch a Bears win and have a nice meal with my brother on Christmas," said Trevor, an avid Bears fan.

Annette Williams, their mother, said the family - grandparents, wives and even their mom - got to see the two brothers on Web camera.

"Grandma and grandpa had sent them cigars, and they had them in their mouths," their mother said. "They were making faces, and it was so fun to be around about the table and see them.

"It made us feel good knowing that they were together."

Josh enlisted first, was previously deployed to Iraq and was mulling his future when his brother graduated from West Point in 2007 and got assigned to Hawaii. When given the chance to head out there as well, he jumped at the chance.

The brothers and their wives, Kimberly and Molly, spent about a week together in Maui before duty called.

Trevor said while he would rather be with his family, knowing that he's in Iraq to help the people there makes it worthwhile.

"I don't think there is a better gift to give than giving the Iraqi people the chance at a fully-functional democracy," he said. "It is amazing to me how well these people of all different ethnicities are working together with the ultimate goal of having a successful democracy.

"Although I miss my wife and family, helping out the people of Iraq to obtain their goal of democracy so that their children can have the same hopes and dreams that we grew up with make being here well worth it," Trevor added.

For Josh Williams, the holiday with his brother is cathartic. His last holiday was spent dodging enemy fire.

"There was a mortar round fired at our base and a large piece of shrapnel came straight through my tent and hit the ground right next to me," he said. "I had only been in Iraq at the time for about two weeks. Three days after that, I lost one of my good friends, Cpl. Aaron Forbes, in an IED attack."

"During my last tour here in Iraq I was shot at, blown up, and everything else that could happen. This time I have been here two months now, and I have not seen a shot fired toward us or by us," he said.

This Christmas has been great in comparison, Josh said.

"I am sitting next to my brother and surrounded by friends and people I consider to be family," he said.